§ Sir DAVID BRYNMOR JONESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether gold mining operations have been commenced at Kildonan, in Scotland, and, if so, what royalties are being charged by the Government on the gold produced; whether the gold for the insignia to be used at the investiture of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has been obtained from the gold mines of Merionethshire; what is the total quantity and total value of gold which has been obtained from the mines known as Gwyn or Gwynfynydd and St. David's mines, in that county, since gold mining operations were commenced by Mr. Pritchard Morgan in or about the year 1888; what has been the average value per ton of the ore from the said mines in Merionethshire which has been treated; and what is the total amount of royalties charged and received by the Crown on such gold in and since that year?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI understand that fresh prospecting operations have been commenced, or are about to be commenced, at Kildonan by the Duke of Sutherland, who holds a Crown Charter of Mines Royal within his lands which re-1118W serves to the Crown a tenth part of the gold and silver ore found. The gold for the insignia used at the Investiture of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was obtained from the Merionethshire mines. According to the returns furnished to the Commissioners of Woods by the lessees, the total quantity of gold and silver obtained from the Gwyn or Gwynfynydd and St. David's Mines in Merionethshire since 1888 is 102,038 ounces, and the total net value £362,298, the silver representing but a small proportion of the whole. The average value per ton of the veinstuff treated appears from the returns furnished to be about £l 9s. 9d. The total amount of royalties received by the Crown from these Merionethshire mines since 1888 is £12,383.